Tell us a little bit about you and your background.

Born and raised in New Rochelle, NY, I earned my BFA in Cartooning & Illustration from The School of Visual Arts. After graduation, I worked a variety of freelance art projects before discovering a passion for teaching and classroom management, ultimately returning to my alma mater as an art educator. Sharing my love for visual arts while helping shape young minds proved to be incredibly rewarding.

Some time after relocating to Northport, Long Island to start my family, I proudly opened my own art studio. My business was built on many of the same core principles as One River, so while I cherished the experience of running my own studio, joining One River felt like a natural next step – a chance to take my career to the next level with a team that shares my values and passion for art education. 

What attracted you to work at One River School?

It’s rare to find a school or studio that focuses primarily on contemporary art and living artists. Knowing that One River builds its curriculum around globally recognized, trending artists (relevant to both kids and adults), I immediately knew it was the kind of environment where I would thrive.

How would you describe your team?

The team here at One River Woodbury is incredibly knowledgeable and well-versed in the art styles and mediums we teach. I’m fortunate to work alongside a dedicated group of teachers and managers who are not only passionate about art education but also deeply committed to the success and growth of every student who studies with us.

What do you think we do best at One River?

As a visual arts school, I believe what One River does best is introducing students to unique art forms and techniques. It’s rare to find programs that offer classes in areas like street art, cartooning, and animation. As an artist with a love for these genres, I would have loved having access to a school like this when I was growing up.

Is there a special One River moment that stands out for you?

At our most recent student show, a family was leaving when the father turned to me and a few team members and said, “This is the best show I’ve ever been to here.” That one simple compliment reminded me that all the hard work we put in each day is being noticed and making an impact.

Who or what motivates you?

I’m motivated by the blank slate. I prefer the term creator over artist because I find inspiration in making something out of nothing. There’s a unique energy in starting from scratch – transforming emptiness into something original, something that’s never existed before and may never exist again.

What do you enjoy outside of One River?

Besides spending time with my family and our friends; I love creating, going to concerts, exploring new places and playing games. I’ve spent more time making games than illustrating over the last few years. I have a lot of fun with the whole process- brainstorming concepts of new games, designing them (from the logo to the game board itself), the rules that make them playable, crafting the board/materials (primarily made from woodworking), and painting/staining the final product. Once the creation is complete, the most rewarding part is having people play them, especially when they can do so for numerous hours.